Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery has an infectious running style. His will and determination are on display with every carry. In many ways, he runs with the same mentality that Bears legend Walter Payton did during his Hall of Fame career.
“Never die easy,” Payton said of playing running back .”Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It’s okay to lose, to die, but don’t die without trying, without giving it your best.”
Montgomery will never reach the heights Payton did during his career, but his role in Chicago’s offense in 2022 is critical. He’ll be the Bears’ bell cow. His ability to carve out chunk gains as a runner and receiver will assist quarterback Justin Fields in a crucial developmental season.
But Montgomery is playing for more than just team success in 2022. He’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. If he proves to general manager Ryan Poles that he can’t easily replace his skill set, there’s a chance he’ll join an exclusive fraternity of running backs who earn lucrative second contracts with the team that drafted them.
